This time in the form of a BLYTH'S PIPIT found close to Pugneys CP, West Yorkshire. I went down on the Tuesday and managed to see it on 4 occasions jump out the grass, call, fly around for 30 seconds and dive back in. Not the most exciting bird in the world but well worth the short trip down.

Thursday, 11 December 2014

Monday 1st December a Redstart at Scalby, North Yorkshire was reidentified as a Male Eastern Black Redstart. Not a full species yet but well worth the short trip down as it was a very smart bird with bright red underparts contrasting with a black throat. A few years back their was an Eastern Black Redstart on Holy Island which I was offered a lift to but I decided to go and see a local female Smew instead but so after that stupid decision I was happy to get this one back.Below is a proper photo of the bird taken by Josh Jones

This local mega was found on Sunday 23rd November and identified as a Northern Wheatear but thanks to two certain birders it was refound just before dark and identified as Durham and Clevelands 1st Isabelline Wheatear! That evening only the locals who where quick off the mark saw it in any respectable light and as per usual I was washing pots. I got there for first light the next day and I was very surprised to see the bird was still present and it continued to show at point blank range for the next 4 days and proved to be the latest ever Isabelline Wheatear recorded in Britain!